If Atheism is a Religion, Then... - Atheist Nexus2016-12-09T15:56:52Zhttp://atheistnexus.org/forum/topics/if-atheism-is-a-religion-then?groupUrl=hangwithfriends&commentId=2182797%3AComment%3A1856481&groupId=2182797%3AGroup%3A1248185&feed=yes&xn_auth=noNow that's funny!tag:atheistnexus.org,2012-02-15:2182797:Comment:18588552012-02-15T07:15:16.244ZTerry Groffhttp://atheistnexus.org/profile/TerryGroff
<p>Now that's funny!</p>
<p>Now that's funny!</p> I like Alain de Botton's sugg…tag:atheistnexus.org,2012-02-15:2182797:Comment:18587902012-02-15T05:41:57.715ZRuth Anthony-Gardnerhttp://atheistnexus.org/profile/RuthAnthonyGardner
<p>I like Alain de Botton's suggestion of a "religion for atheists" or Atheism 2.0 .</p>
<p>Atheism, as usually practiced, fails to meet social and emotional needs, while religions excel at seeming to do so.</p>
<p>I like Alain de Botton's suggestion of a "religion for atheists" or Atheism 2.0 .</p>
<p>Atheism, as usually practiced, fails to meet social and emotional needs, while religions excel at seeming to do so.</p> LOLtag:atheistnexus.org,2012-02-15:2182797:Comment:18586032012-02-15T05:35:36.986ZRuth Anthony-Gardnerhttp://atheistnexus.org/profile/RuthAnthonyGardner
<p>LOL</p>
<p>LOL</p> lol! If Atheism is a religio…tag:atheistnexus.org,2012-02-15:2182797:Comment:18587792012-02-15T04:41:22.263Zannethttp://atheistnexus.org/profile/AnneT
<p>lol! <span>If Atheism is a religion then: it is a non-prophet organization.</span></p>
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<p>lol! <span>If Atheism is a religion then: it is a non-prophet organization.</span></p>
<p></p> Your point is well-noted. Th…tag:atheistnexus.org,2012-02-15:2182797:Comment:18586812012-02-15T04:18:50.090ZMichael OLhttp://atheistnexus.org/profile/MichaelOL
<p>Your point is well-noted. Theravada Buddhism, in large measure, in fact is NOT a religion, precisely because there is no personified object of worship. Certainly, there is a "religious fervor" of devotion to some metaphysical cause, and we can argue whether this devotion is any less sincere (or less generously, any less fanatical!) than that in the Abrahamic religions. But I would opine that this form of Buddhism is not a religion per se.</p>
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<p>Likewise with the various…</p>
<p>Your point is well-noted. Theravada Buddhism, in large measure, in fact is NOT a religion, precisely because there is no personified object of worship. Certainly, there is a "religious fervor" of devotion to some metaphysical cause, and we can argue whether this devotion is any less sincere (or less generously, any less fanatical!) than that in the Abrahamic religions. But I would opine that this form of Buddhism is not a religion per se.</p>
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<p>Likewise with the various "religions" where people congregate to chant, to follow rituals and so forth, but where there is no god-figure serving as receptacle of their fealty.</p>
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<p>To be sure, the lack of an object of worship does not make the associated creed somehow worthy of endorsement or rational in its principles. But it is precisely the worship of a god-figure that gives religion is religiousity - namely, the surrender of self-affirmation and self-respect in favor of some abstract being.</p>
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<p>Another good example is Communism, as practiced in mid-20th century totalitarian countries. Devotion to Communist principles, whatever those may be, was fanatical indeed. The ritual, the grotesqueness and obsequiousness was not any less outrageous than in American evangelical Protestantism. But however lovely the "great leader" may have been, he was not worshiped as a supernatural being. And therefore it wasn't a religion.</p>
<p></p> If Atheism is a religion then…tag:atheistnexus.org,2012-02-13:2182797:Comment:18564812012-02-13T04:18:20.436ZClarence Demberhttp://atheistnexus.org/profile/ClarenceDember
If Atheism is a religion then flying squirrels need to file flight plans with the FAA.
If Atheism is a religion then flying squirrels need to file flight plans with the FAA. Beyond the cleverness and pit…tag:atheistnexus.org,2012-02-13:2182797:Comment:18564172012-02-13T03:14:51.431ZMichael OLhttp://atheistnexus.org/profile/MichaelOL
<p>Beyond the cleverness and pithy retorts, we can say this: the fundamental idea of religion isn't faith per se, but worship of an identified and personalized being - that, is the god-figure. Faith that I'm a swell guy or that tomorrow I'll win the lottery - well, that's also a sort of faith, but it is not a religion, because there is no centralized object of worship. Even a strong and abiding faith that sustains us in moments of emotional vulnerability isn't necessarily a religion. For it…</p>
<p>Beyond the cleverness and pithy retorts, we can say this: the fundamental idea of religion isn't faith per se, but worship of an identified and personalized being - that, is the god-figure. Faith that I'm a swell guy or that tomorrow I'll win the lottery - well, that's also a sort of faith, but it is not a religion, because there is no centralized object of worship. Even a strong and abiding faith that sustains us in moments of emotional vulnerability isn't necessarily a religion. For it to be a religion, there must be an object of worship, and a general and vague recourse to "the great unknown", or to "fate", is not worship. </p> Great list, Steve. Thanks fo…tag:atheistnexus.org,2012-02-13:2182797:Comment:18560892012-02-13T01:37:51.170ZAnnie Thomashttp://atheistnexus.org/profile/AnnieThomas
<p>Great list, Steve. Thanks for sharing. </p>
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<p>I liked "then health is a disease," "a blank word document is an essay", and "anorexia is a diet." </p>
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<p>I'm on day ten of a head cold, so being clever is out of reach for me at the moment... I'll have to just enjoy the cleverness of others. ;-)</p>
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<p>Great list, Steve. Thanks for sharing. </p>
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<p>I liked "then health is a disease," "a blank word document is an essay", and "anorexia is a diet." </p>
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<p>I'm on day ten of a head cold, so being clever is out of reach for me at the moment... I'll have to just enjoy the cleverness of others. ;-)</p>
<p></p> Truetag:atheistnexus.org,2012-02-13:2182797:Comment:18564412012-02-13T01:26:52.013ZSteph S.http://atheistnexus.org/profile/StephS
True
True Thanks - will check that out…tag:atheistnexus.org,2012-02-13:2182797:Comment:18565282012-02-13T01:26:30.727ZSteph S.http://atheistnexus.org/profile/StephS
Thanks - will check that out Steve!
Thanks - will check that out Steve!